Automobile-buffer.



A. L. M GREGOE. AUTOMOBILE BUFFER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1909.

Lgm y g I -Pate mdJan.'16,1912.

r UNITED STATES P TE T OFFICE.

ALLAN L. menneon, or DULUTH, :NINNEsorA.

- "AUromoBIL -BUrriin.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed August 27, 1909. ml N5. 514,902.

'Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Buffers', of which the following is a specificavtion.

This invention relates to buffers for use on automobiles, and has reference more particularly to that type of buffer now exten- 'sively employed wherein aliorizontally disposed bufler-bar'is yieldably mounted upon and in advance of the usual elliptical springs ipfiporting the forepart of the automobile The invention has for its general object to provide a simple and improved device of this type which may be readily attached to automobile frames of varying sizes, and which shall be held securely in operative position, notwithstanding the jar and vibration to which such 'devices are subjected,

, which imposes a severe strain upon the attaching parts.

More specific objects of the invention are, first, to provide an imp roved construction capable of resisting strains. and shocks upon the end portions of the butler-bar w1thout injury to the latter -or-to its cushionlng and connecting devices; second, to provide a construction adaptable to varying sizes and shapes of frames; and third, to provide a construction wherein the attachment of the rear ends of the cushioning deyices carrying the buffer bar may ;-be\made either to the forwardly projectlng 'side\ bars or to the underlying elliptical spr1ngs, as may be more convenient in any g1ven case.

Other minor objects of the inventlon will appear from the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanylng drawings which illustrate one practical form in as mounted which the invention may be dressed, and wherein Figure 1' is atop lan View of my 1mproved automobile bu er, showing the same on the forward end of the. ve-

' hicle frame. Fig. 2' is' an enlarged cross sectional view on 3 is an enlarged cross-sectiona'l view on the line 3-3 of F1g.:2, looking in the direction-indicated by the arrows. Fig. 41s a view generally sim lar to Fig. 3

the line 2 -2' of Fig. 1,] looking in the direction indicated by the arrows- Fig.

1n cross-section throu the, {plunger rod and elllptlcal spring 1n different vertical planes, showing a manner and means of connectmg the rear end of the cushioning device to the elliptical spring instead of to the forwardl projecting side bar, as in Figs. 1, 2 an 3; and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional detail on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, lookmgln the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the. forwardly and downwardly curved end portions of the usual side bars of the frame, to the forward ends of which are pivoted by hinge-bolts 11 the usual elliptic spring sections 12.

13 designates the bufier .bar which is in the usual form, the same being-directly mounted 1n collars 14 clamped thereto by screw-bolts 1?, each carrying an inwardly projecting hinge-lug 16. thatis pivotally connected by a vertical hinge-b01151? witha-forked hingemember 18, into the inner end of which is tapped the threaded end of a' plunger-rodfor the most part.

Patented Jan. 16,1912.

Surrounding the plunger-rod-19 between the inner face of the hinge-member 18 and the forward end of the guide-sleeve 20 is a cushioning spring 23; and the plunger rod is confined against accidental retraction by a cotter-pin 24. passed through one of a series of holes "25 in the inner end of the.

plunger rod. The parts last described.

nected a link for maintaining the cushioning device in'substantially horizontal position, which link may be connected either to the side bar 10 or to theunderlyingisprmg 12 referably the former. In its preferre simply of a rod 26 havin a horizontally bent end portion 27 (Fig. that is thread ed and loosely engages an mternallythread ed hole 28 in he'rear end of-thebar 21;

orm, as herein shown, this link consists I so II collarsofthe butfe'rbarand ts carrying and each threaded connection afiordingaflex- 'ible joint andat the-same tiine permitting a ternally threaded, head of an ey bolt 29,

which latter is a djustably secured by nuts 'an'd 31. 3 to and through the side bar 10, or toand through one ,oit-gthe vertical" iflilI lggs thereof in} the CRSQDff-a hollow 01- [channeled side bar," as shown. This constructioh affords "aiconne'ction that is ad- -;-j ustable both verticallyand horizontally,- fand. is preferred l for that reason; In-this connection it may be mentioned that a 'series of ivot holes 22 permit of adjustingthe extent in advanceof the forward end of the vehicle; and they may be made of varying 7 sizes, as shown,. to" adapt the device to vary-' alteration to secure. a" fit.

ingsizes of pivotgbolts 11 without requiring.

lYhereIt-he rear nd of the cushioning device is attaeh'edfto the spring 12, the con struct-ion is preferablytl atshown in Figs.

'- I this latter corripd -eyeboltsl3-3;-an

-. 4 and 5; each A1101; link 26 being swung 930 A with the -'-low'er'-'jf downwardly andpconnfectiedat its'lower end was a clampmember, rising said jaw 32, vertical I an upper clamp jaw in the form o f a130K534connectingthe upper-ends oi saidieye-bolt's'f'a saddle member cara b cu h on 36 being preferablyl byvibration.

superposed on the lower jaw 32 to secure a effect not liable to be loosened 'tight' clamping I To avoid interference w th the free action of the sprrr fg' 1 2, the lower 7 end ofth'e link 26 has a swiveling connection with the jaw 32 of'the-clampflhe sanie com prising a transversely. apertured wrist-pin 37 formed an I integral internally threaded eye 38 eiifg@1ng the link 26,. and asocket member-"39 formed on one end of the jaw 32 receiving said wrist-pin, said socket member bemgv prov ded on, opposite sides with transverse slbts 40 adapted to accommodate a.cotte1'-pin 41 thatextends through said slots and through-theaperture" of the wrist-pijin;--thereby permitting the slight oscillation 'ofthe link 26 necessary to avoid any interference with the free compressing and expanding movement of the spring 12. ,This swivel 01nt at the same ,timfc affords i1 reliable coupling between the I nk DQT I JQfimP- a 1. "Eroin the forego ng 1t; w11 l b e-seen that vthe hingeconnec'tions l7 between'th'e clamp cushioning device permits a ho'riz o'ii'tal--*'aI1.-

cept to the extent pos tion of the bnfler bar toa greater or less v.

rod slidably :mountigd; in said guide] and connected. at 1ts' "'.iorward 1 and producing any breaking strain at eitherpoint of connection. -Furthern1ore, by extending the rear connection: ot'thecushioning device to a considerable extent inwardly of the forwardendsof the side bars and springs, the jar and vibration imparte d to the bar and its attaching devices is coiisiderably, reduced, and the danger of the attaching devices working loose iszavoided.

It will be manifest to thosefilled in the art that thedevic'e as shown and described m ghtbe considerably varied in details without involvingaiiy departur from its principle of operation orisa crificiiig'any of the benefits" and,ad\ -"antag'es secured thereby.

Hence I do not limittlie devi'Ceto theP articular form and constructioii disclosed} xcific claims.

-I claim: A I 1 vA r iI 1 .u tomohile bufi'ert.comprising in combination a' buffer-bar, cushioning devices carrying said bufl'er -bar pivoted"v "on the hinge-bolts of the elliptic springs 10f the vehicle, and collars embracing said rbuflerbar" and connected by 've 'rtic al hinge j'oi'nts vices substantially as and for the'purposedescribed. '1 Y a 2. automobile ases,- comprising in combination a butter-bar; cashioning devices carrying said bufi'ere bar, pivoted"[on the hinge-bolts of .the' ellipticfsprings of the vehicle and extending rear'w'ardly 3 thereof, and links adapted to interchangeably conne'ct the rear ends of saidcushioning dvices with either the side bars ofthe vehic e oi-the underlying elliptic 's-pr' spat-e to said side bars-substantially to the 'forward 'endsfof said cushioning decombination a butter-bar,cushioningfdevices carrying said buiie'r-barpivoted f the hinge-bolts I of the ellip' ticj springs "or the vehicle and extendingfjreaigwardly" "thereof,

and links adapted to CO IlI"113 011"tllegl'tll' ends of said cushioning I devi ces 'with "ftl fejffront portion of the vehicle, said links' 'cbmprising vertical rods havinghorizontally bent-lower end portions screw-threaded to ja'dj u st ably 1 engage internallythreaded holesin the rear ends of said cushioning device's, substantially'as'describ'ed. Y

,4. An automobile ;butfer, compri'sing in combination a butter-bar, cushioningjdevices carrying said bufie bar and each "Icoin'pris ing essentially a bar pivotallymounted, on the hinge-bolt of the elliptic spring 'of' the vehicle and. extending ""rearwardlyfthereof, a guide sleeve rigid .with'. said b91 Plunger sleeve o said buffe r bz ir ,and; a cushioning sp rounding-said plunger rod; and

' against the forward end ofsaid gmd skeve,

and" 'linlg conncctiem between thehinne r ends vehicle and extending of saiid cushioning devices and the front portion of the vehicle, substantially as do scribed; i

v 5. An automobile bufl 'er, comprising in combination .a buffer-bar, cushioning devices carrying said buffer-bar pivoted on thehinge-bolts of the elliptic springs of therearwardly thereof, and upwardly extendlng links flexibly connected at their lower ends to the rear extensions of said cushioning devices and at their upper ends connected to jecting side bars of the vehicle, substantlally as described. I

6. An automobile bufl'er, comprising in the forwardly procombination. a buffer-bar, cushioning devices carrying said bufler-barpivoted on .at their'lower ends toflthe rear extensions of said cushioning devices, and eye-bolts mounted in the forwardly projecting; side bars of thevehicle. and adjustably engaging the'upper ends of said links, substantially as 25. described. v

' ALLAN L. MCGREGOR'.

Witnesses: I SAMUEL N. Form,

- MATTJE B., BLISS. 

